About the Japan Social Development Fund
The Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) was established by the Government of Japan and the World Bank in June 2000 as an untied mechanism for providing direct assistance to the poorest and most vulnerable groups in eligible member countries of the World Bank Group. As of June 30, 2007, the Government of Japan had provided over US$350 million to the JSDF and 250 grants, amounting to US$275.7 million, had been approved.
The main purposes of the JSDF are to:
- Respond directly to the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable groups;
- Encourage the testing of innovative methods that are new or alternative approaches at the project, country, or regional level, or that facilitate new partnerships or assist new target groups;
- Support initiatives that lead to developing sustainable outcomes through the adoption or scaling-up of the pilot project through Bank-financed operations, recipient government activities, or other activities; or
- Build ownership , capacity, empowerment and participation of local communities, NGOs and other civil society groups to facilitate their involvement in operations financed by the World Bank.
A similar fund, the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction(JFPR), is being administered by the Asian Development Bank. Specific informationon approved JSDF grants is available.
Partnerships with Civil Society
The JSDF is a tool for local communities and civil society organizations, including NGOs , to actively participate in the development process. (Please see Community Driven Developmenton the World Bank's website.)
Partnerships with Japanese NGOs
The partnerships are forged in the following ways: (1) The community group or NGO may collaborate with the World Bank task team currently managing an existing and related World Bank Group financed project in conceptualizing and designing the proposed grant, using the attached Concept Noteformat. The Concept Note should be discussed with an appropriate Task Manager in the relevant World Bank office. Please note that only World Bank staff can officially submit JSDF applications, and sometimes it may be impossible to find a Task Manager to work on the proposal, even for a very good potential proposal. Civil society groups are advised to establish contacts with the country teams directly or through the NGO liaison officers/Civil society specialists in the World Bank field offices. (2) JSDF grants may be executed by recipient governments (central or local) or by civil society organizations. The executing agency may procure the services of civil society organizations in implementing specific grant activities.If you are interested in identifying potential Japanese NGO partners, please email Mr. Koichi Omori at komori@worldbank.org. If you have general questions, please contact any member of our team.
Related sites:
RSS